Going somewhere?

Water shortages, mob violence, ministers stopped in their tracks, AIDS among prison inmates, football politics and much more. Gamal Nkrumah and Mohamed El-Sayed dig in

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'Why didn't they include our government in the new seven wonders of the world?' By Mohamed Rifaie in the Egyptian magazine Akher Saa

What a busy weekend newspapermen have had. The papers covered a wide range of topics, not least the growing gap between rich and poor has hit the headlines. The politics of envy is at work, and for good reason, too, the pundits say.

However, given the political sensitivity to the dire socio-economic conditions so widespread in the slums and shantytowns of Cairo, it was expected that the pundits would tackle this problem with much prudence. But because of water shortages, coupled with the abject poverty of millions of Cairenes, it is not surprising that the independent papers in particular focussed on the issue of water scarcity among the poor and the politics of water. "Pity the poor", the papers appeared to cry.

Commentators seem to agree that the blame for the economic malaise lies squarely on the shoulders of the very ministers who are leading the parade. There is, after all, a sound economic reason behind the wrath of the poor. They are outraged by the lavish lifestyle of the rich and powerful when their own basic needs are not being met.

It is no surprise then that the lack of potable water and sewage services made the headlines this week. The independent daily Al-Masry Al-Yom ran a feature headlined, "Thirst hits Greater Cairo". The paper elaborated on the nature of the problem and outlined possible solutions. Water, or rather the lack of it, has become the focus of the wrath of the poor. And, the reason for their politicisation.

"Ironically, fresh drinking water pipes pass through [poor] villages and towns on their way to the areas where the rich live. The rich waste [the abundant water supply] on irrigating the gardens surrounding their palaces, cleaning their luxurious cars, dogs and horses within sight of [thousands] of citizens who lie in streets with empty plastic containers waiting for trucks that sell water to them," the paper illustrated.

In Al-Borollos in Kafr Al-Sheikh, demonstrators cut off the international coastal highway in protest against the lack of drinking water. The newspaper also reported that angry mobs in the impoverished sprawling low-income district of Al-Marg in northern Cairo broke into a procession of a group of ministers while they were inaugurating a sewage treatment plant in protest at the sewage that flooded the streets of the district.

On an entirely different note, outspoken political commentator Hassan Nafaa writing in Al-Masry Al-Yom raised several questions concerning the mysterious death in London of Ashraf Marawan, a key aid to former President Anwar El-Sadat and the son-in-law of former President Gamal Abdel-Nasser.

"[Marawan's] case is all-important for us. We must deal with every aspect of it with the highest degree of transparency and non-partisanship, especially the aspect concerning Egyptian national security," Nafaa insisted.

Nafaa did not mince his words. "Marawan's case has three aspects: first, the psychological and intellectual dimensions of Ashraf Marawan's personality; second, his commercial and financial dealings and the source of his wealth and whether it was gained legally; third, the precise nature of his relationship with Israel and the circumstances in which he died," Nafaa noted.

Nafaa cast doubt on the possibility that Marawan served as a double agent for both Egyptian and Israeli intelligence. "It was Egyptian sources that revealed that Marawan served as an agent of Israel. It would be impossible that Israeli sources expose one of their agents who provided a great service to them."

On the other hand, Salah Montasser, writing in the daily Al-Ahram, downplayed Marawan's political role as an intelligence agent. "I personally believe that Marawan did not know the timing of the Sixth of October War. His role was to complete the scenario of deception drawn up by Egyptian intelligence in order to keep the most precious secret in the history of the nation. Israel knew the day [on which the war would be launched] but still was taken by surprise by its exact timing."

The sordid business of Marawan's mysterious death held pundits and commentators in thrall. Said Abdel-Khaleq, writing in the liberal opposition mouthpiece Al-Wafd, demanded to know why the official announcement of Marawan's patriotic role in the past was delayed. "The presence of Omar Suleiman, chief of intelligence and the second man in [the Egyptian regime], answered many questions. It put an end to the controversy that fuelled satellite channels [reporting] about the role of Marawan in camouflaging the real timing of the October War."

However, Abdel-Khaleq stressed that a number of key questions remained unanswered. "Why was no official statement from the presidency issued soon after Marawan's death, telling the true story of his history and his role during his days in office with Sadat?"

Meanwhile, the prickly question of HIV/AIDS hit the headlines. A few writers were unequivocal in their belief that HIV/AIDS is spreading in prisons because of homosexuality. Al-Masry Al-Yom quoted the head of the Doctors' Syndicate and chairman of the Health Committee at the People's Assembly, Hamdi El-Sayed as saying, "Overcrowded prisons has led to widespread and fatal diseases like AIDS among prisoners."

"[Authorities] have to allow prisoners to meet their spouses in prisons to protect them sexually and psychologically [from fatal diseases]."

El-Sayed was quoted as saying that the issue of HIV/AIDS and homosexuality in prisons must be depoliticised. "We are facing a humanitarian case, not a political one. We have to extend a helping hand to them," he was reported as saying.

Sports, or rather football politics, too, dominated the press. There was much debate about the current transfer status of Ismaili footballer Hosni Abd Rabbo. Sports columnist, Hassan El-Mistikawi wrote in Al-Ahram about the possible transfer of the canal city's most prodigious son to Cairene powerhouse Ahli. The transfer stirred fierce debate in sports circles and has been the talk of the town during the past two weeks. Abd Rabbo received death threats from Ismaili fans who attacked his house in Ismailia. Small wonder, since the animosity between the fans of the two clubs is deep-rooted.

"The circle of anger [among Ismaili fans] has widened to an absurd extent," wrote El-Mistikawi , criticising satellite channel which used the case to agitate fanaticism [and animosity among the fans of the two clubs] in an attempt to attract more viewers. [Satellite channels] host the player and he cries, and his brother cries, and his supporters cry against a backdrop of funeral music and [death] threats -- what is this? Don't we see how [professional players] move from one club to another in the [developed world]? This is media chaos and playing on people's feeling